Adjustable storage rack



July 17, 1962 E. A. BAKER, JR

ADJUSTABLE STORAGE RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7, 1960 3,044,633 Patented July 17, 1962 3,044,633 ADJUSTABLE STQRAGE RACK Edward A. Baker, Jr., Drayton Plains, Mich., assignor to Palmer-Shile Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed June 7, 1960, Ser. No. 34,505 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-147) This invention relates to adjustable storage racks, and more particularly to an improved storage rack particularly adapted for use in supporting and storing pallets in industrial establishments.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved adjustable storage rack construction which is especially adapted to support pallets or the like in stacked condition, and which comprises collapsible components capable of being locked together in a simple and extremely secure manner. I

It is another object to provide an improved collapsible storage rack of this nature which uses only a few basic components which may be assembled to accommodate various types of merchandise to be stored, and which components are capable of being manufactured at extremely low cost.

It is a further object to provide an improved adjustable storage rack having the above characteristics, which can be readily disassembled and stowed away when not in use, occupying a of space.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or otherwise become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the novel storage rack of this invention shown in assembled condition;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged end elevational view of one of the vertical units;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the end unit taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of one of the rail members and the attached securing element's;

FIGURE 5 is a plan View of the rail member shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view in elevation showing the shape of the rail member, taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken in the area marked 7 of FIGURE 1, and showing the manner of connection between the rail connecting members and the end unit post slots. 1

In general terms, the invention comprises a plurality of end units of identical shape which are in vertically disposed parallel relation when assembled, together with a plurality of front and rear rail members connected between iront and rear posts on adjacent end units. The end units have front and rear slotted posts connected by cross members, the slots having side walls tapering downwardly and toward each other. Each rail member has a connecting element with extensions receivable by a group of adjacent slots on a post of the end unit. The configurations of the connecting member extensions and the slot side Walls are such that the connecting members will be wedged into tight frictional engagement with the end unit posts, thereby maintaining an extremely rigid connection between the rails and end units and greatly increasing the loading capacity of these connections over what would be available with conventional securing means.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the adjustable storage rack is shown in its assembled position in FIGURE 1 and is generally indicated at 11. The rack comprises two basic components, an end unit generally indicated at 12, and front and rear rail members generally indicated at 13.

The construction of each end unit 12 is best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. Each end unit comprises front and rear posts 14, each of these posts being preferably fabricated of steel having the cross-section of a semi-closed channel, as seen in FIGURE 3. More particularly, each channel has a central web 14a having side flanges 15 at opposite ends thereof, and'inwardly directed flanges 16 extending toward each other from the outer ends of flanges 15. The front and rear posts 14 of each end member 12 are disposed in spaced parallel relation, and are connected by a plurality of horizontal cross members 17 of channel-shaped cross section, as seen in FIGURE 2. Three such cross. members 17 are shown in FIGURE 2, although a different number could be used as required. The ends of cross members 17 are welded or otherwise secured within the facing open sides of posts '14. The lower member 17 is spaced a suflicient distance above the lower ends of posts 14 to permit the posts to rest on floor 18 when the rack is assembled. Diagonal braces 19 may also be provided, these braces being secured to the end portions of adjacent members 17 and serving as cross braces for increasing the rigidity of unit 12.

The outwardly facing web portions of posts 14 are provided with a plurality of pressed-out slot portions 21 in vertically spaced relation; Each of these slot portions has an upper horizontal edge 22, and lower horizontal edge 23, and a pair of side walls 24 which extend downwardly and slightly inwardly toward the centerline of the post. In a typical example, the taper angle may be approximately 6.

. The construction of each rail member 13 is best seen in FIGURES 4-6, each rail member in cross-section, being in the form of a closed box section. It will be understood, however, that the cross sectional shape of rail members 13 may be varied as required within the principles of the invention. .All rail members will normally be of identical size and construction.

A pair of connecting elements 28 and 29 are secured to opposite ends of each front rail member 13. Similar connecting members 28 and 29 are attached to rail members 13 for the'rear of storage rack 11, so that each rail member 13 may be interchangeably used for the front or rear of the rack. As seen in FIGURE 3, members 28 and 29 on adjacent ends of each pair of front and rear rail members 13 are both of angular cross-sectional shape but are of opposite hands for securing to front and rear posts 14, respectively. The two connecting members 28 and 29 on each rail 13 will also be of opposite hands. The detailed construction of an individual connecting member 28 or 29 is perhaps best seen in FIGURES 5 and 7. Each member has a first flange 28a or 2911 welded at 28b and 2% or otherwise secured to an end of member =13, and an engaging flange 31 extending outwardly therefrom. Members 28 and 29 extend a substantial distance below members 13, and each flange 31 is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending engaging teeth 32, three such teeth being shown in the illustrated embodiment. These teeth are spaced apart the same distance as slot portions 21, this distance being approximately three inches in a typical embodiment. Each tooth 32 has a tapered inner edge 33, as seen in FIGURE 7, this edge being contiguous with an upwardly extending cutout portion or recess 34 in flange 31. The spacing of edges 33 from the inner surface of the main portion of member 28 or 29, relative to the spacing of slot side walls 24 from post flanges 15, is such that when teeth 32 enter slotted portions 21, side walls 24 will wedge connecting members 28 and 29 against post 14, edges 33 having substantially the same inclinations as the side walls.

In operation, end units 12 will be held in vertical and spaced parallel relation, and rail members 13 will be mounted thereon by means of connecting elements 28 and 29, the rail members being placed at the proper height for the desired storage purpose. Because of the close spacing of slots 21, accurate selection of the rail members height will be greatly facilitated. As each connecting member 28 or 29 is slipped into position within three adjacent slotted portions 21, it will be drawn securely against post 14 with a frictional wedging action. The slotted portions 21 will engage the sides of teeth 32 to prevent movement of connecting elements 28 and 29 away from the web portions of posts 14. Slotted portions 21 are wide enough, as seen in FIGURE 7, to accommodate connecting members 28 or 29 from two rail members solely on opposite sides of the post. The inner ends of recesses 34 will not engage side walls 24, so that there will be no direct Weight or load on the teeth or hookshaped portions 32, the force also being exerted against flanges 15 of posts 14. Because of the relatively great vertical extent of elements 28 and 29, engaging three adjacent slotted portions 21, there will be no possibility of canting or cocking of the rail members relative to the posts. As a load or weight is placed on each pair of rails, the wedging action will become even tighter, thus enhancing the rigidity of the assembly. It will be obvious that rails in adjacent spaces between posts may be placed at different heights; this is illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The construction shown is especially advantageous in view of its extremely simple and economical nature in terms of mass fabrication. The basic components are, for the most part, well known structural steel shapes, and there are few variations of the basic components required, each pair of front and rear rails 113, for example, only requiring one right and one left pair of connecting elements 28 and 29. When necessary, the storage rack may be quickly and easily dismantled by lifting connecting elements 28 and 29 out of slotted portions 21, the spacing between the slotted portions being sufficient to permit teeth 32 to be withdrawn from the slotted portions. When stowed away, the parts will occupy very little space, and there will be no small unattached components which could possibly be mislaid or lost.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment herein illustrated is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an adjustable storage rack construction, the combination including a plurality of end units each comprising front and rear posts in spaced parallel relationship and cross members connecting said posts to form a rigid unit, each post having a cross section including a web and a pair of parallel flanges projecting from said web, a plurality of equidistantly spaced vertically arranged slotted portions on each post, each slotted portion being pressed outwardly from said web without removing material therefrom and comprising downwardly extending side walls integral with said web and symmetrically disposed with respect to the post centerline, a plurality of rail members each having a pair of connecting elements secured to the ends thereof, each connecting element having an angular cross sectional shape fitted against the web and one flange of a post, a plurality of vertically spaced downwardly extending teeth formed on the portion or" each connecting element fitted against the post web, said teeth having the same spacing as said post slotted portions, said slotted portions receiving said teeth so as to prevent substantial movement of said connecting units away from said post web, said slotted portions being sufficiently wide to simultaneously receive a pair of connecting element teeth on opposite sides thereof, and inclined edges on said teeth engaging said walls of the slotted portions on said posts, said interfitting teeth and slotted portions being responsive to weight exerted on said rail member to Wedge said connecting element against the corresponding post flange.

2. In an adjustable storage rack construction, a plurality of end units each comprising front and rear posts in spaced parallel relation and cross members connecting said posts to form a rigid unit, each post having a partially closed channel-shaped cross-section with an outwardly facing web, a pair of flanges extending inwardly from said web, a second pair of flanges extending toward each other from the first pair of flanges, a plurality of equidistantly spaced vertically arranged slotted portions on each post, each slotted portion being pressed outwardly from said web and comprising downwardly extending side walls symmetrically disposed with respect to the post centerline, a plurality of rail members each having a pair of connecting elements secured to the ends thereof, each connecting element having an angular cross-sectional shape fitted against the web and one flange of a post, a plurality of vertically spaced downwardly extending teeth formed on the portion of each connecting element fitted against the post web, said teeth having the same spacing as said post slotted portions, said slotted portions receiving said teeth so as to prevent substantial movement of said connecting elements away from the post web, said slotted portions being sufiiciently wide to simultaneously receive a pair of connecting element teeth on opposite sides thereof, and inclined edges on said teeth adapted to engage said walls of the slotted portions on said posts, said interfitting teeth and slotted portions being responsive to weight exerted on said rail member to wedge said connecting element against the corresponding post flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,130 Franks Dec. 3, 1957 2,893,567 Steele July 7, 1959 2,895,619 Frazier July 21, 1959 2,925,920 Skubic Feb. 23, 1960 2,937,767 Butler May 24, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 412,869 Great Britain July 5, 1934 515,259 Great Britain Nov. 30, 1959 

